12-15-MENTORING-1.12_- 1/5/12 12:05 PM Page 13
metroMagazine • The Spirit of Omaha youth who's had lots of disappointments in life to be disappointed again by a mentor that doesn't last very long,” she says. Organizations are carefully vetted through a “peer review process” to ensure adherence to standards, says Neary. “We have some of the more established mentoring organizations actually mentor some of the newer programs. We’re doing that right now with two new mentoring programs in the pipeline -- Mercy Housing and Loves Jazz & Arts Center. They're being mentored by TeamMates and Partnership for Our Kids.”
working together She says an esprit de corps runs throughout the Partnership. “These organizations are really focused on the mission and working together. The thought is we don't want to reinvent the wheel. There’s no competitive spirit. They all believe in mentoring, they believe every kid can benefit.” Neary says MMP goes beyond national standards on mentor background checks. “We've put financial support behind that, so we pay member organizations’ costs for doing more extensive screenings.” Additionally, she says, “we see to it the mentor-mentee relationship is monitored by the organization on a monthly basis to make sure that student is benefiting and is safe and secure, that mentor has the training they need, and that there are resources available. I know a lot of our organizations offer free opportunities to visit attractions to give mentors things to do with their mentees so there’s no out of pocket expense for either one. “We've had 100 percent buy in by organizations in agreeing to uphold standards, it’s been an exciting process.”
lightly,” he says. “A good mentor has to have the ability to educate with some rigor, you can’t just be nice or friendly. I mean, there’s got to be a relationship where you're together trying to make some progress with regard to education and behavior. “There’s a whole list of things that should be changed and improved to help the educational opportunities for children living in poverty and mentoring is one of them.”
giving mentors their due Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle says he’s put the weight of his office behind mentoring initiatives like MMP to help prevent or mitigate risky behaviors in youth. The mayor says the city acts as “a catalyst” to funnel mentors and support where needed. MMP serves a similar function by sponsoring mentoring organization staff at professional conferences, offering mentor education workshops and granting monies to mentoring programs. Then there’s recognition. MMPs 2012 Mentor of the Year is laura hoPP. The Duchesne Academy senior mentors Cassie through the peer mentoring program Just frieNds at the ollie WeB CeNter. She's been mentoring since age 13. MeNtor advoCate of the year is the KieWit CorPoratioN, Kiewit has 107
employees volunteering as teaMMates. Kiewit CEO BruCe greWCoCK serves on the TeamMates board of directors. The company encourages and facilitates mentors spending time with their mentees. Mayor Suttle sees recognition as one way “to call attention” to an ever pressing need. “I don't know that we ever find the job is done,” he says. “This is a continual effort that seems to have more and more growing needs.” Neary says MMP can match inquirers to a youth program that best suits them. “There’s some way for everybody to be involved – as mentors, tutors, readers. Helping one youth at a time is so rewarding.” To learn more about mentoring and the Midlands Mentoring Partnership visit www.mmpomaha.org.
m
Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.wordpress.com.
more than window dressing Neary says the standards are more than window dressing. “All the research shows all the great things happening because of mentoring are based on mentoring being done by these certain standards. So while every single program is completely different, serving different audiences, structured differently, happening at different times of day, they all follow the same standards.” Omaha philanthropist diCK hollaNd, a BBF board Chairman and mentoring advocate, says the experience is too important not to have training and accountability guidelines and the need too great to not support proven mentoring efforts. “It really takes something to be a great mentor. It should not be undertaken
2012 mentor of the year: laura hopp • ollie webb just friends mentoring mentor laura hopp and her mentee, cassie.
R